Tag Archive for watches

The Goddess Watches the Obama Healthcare Speech (so you don’t have to)

September 9, 2009 politics 3 comments

I’m worried about Obama’s speech tonight.

I’m worried that he’s going to listen to the pre-speech pontificating I’ve been hearing and go all hyper-specific about the kind of healthcare reform he wants. He’s been pretty quiet on this score and that hasn’t worked, this line of reasoning goes. Time to give the American people the 4-1-1.

I think this approach would be a mistake.

I think a litany of details on public options, Medicare expansion, and healthcare co-ops would lead to a slow death by boredom in living rooms (and newsrooms) across America. Instead President Obama needs to be a cardiologist, not a neurologist: he needs to address the heart, not the head.

I want a full-throated, emotional outpouring from the president as to why healthcare reform is a moral issue. And I’m not an emotional gal. “Just the facts, ma’am.” That’s me. But in this case, we need the president to fire us up, not bog us down with minutiae.

Here we go.

8:06 — First lady, guests arrive. I  wonder if there will be a “Skutnik Row” of “ordinary Americans”, like they have at state of the union? In this case, I hope so.

8:11 – As the president arrives, PBS is providing a thoughtful analysis of what it means if certain senators applaud. Or not.

8:17 — I like the beginning so far. The tone is combative. Good start.

8:20 — Nice! The badass Obama showed up! “But we did not come here just to clean up crises. We came to build a future. … I am not the first President to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last.”

8:23 — The President makes the controversial move of acknowledging that there are, like, other countries and stuff. “More and more Americans pay their premiums, only to discover that their insurance company has dropped their coverage when they get sick, or won’t pay the full cost of care. It happens every day. … We are the only advanced democracy on Earth – the only wealthy nation – that allows such hardships for millions of its people.”

8:25 — “I believe it makes more sense to build on what works and fix what doesn’t, rather than try to build an entirely new system from scratch.” That one gets the first (and maybe only) bilateral standing O from the hall.

8:30 – “Well the time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action.” Please be true please be true please be true …

8:31 — “The plan I’m announcing tonight would meet three basic goals: It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance. It will provide insurance to those who don’t. And it will slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government. ” Sounds like a plan to me!

8:32 — “As soon as I sign this bill, it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick or water it down when you need it most.” What I can’t believe is that this isn’t against the law now.

8:37 – The president calls the death panel charge, “a lie pure and simple” and GOP ain’t standing. Wow.

8:39 – Whoa! One congressman shouts out “LIE!” when the president says the plan won’t cover illegal immigrants. Is this a town hall meeting all of a sudden?

8:45 — A Ha! We have a public option sighting. “Some have suggested that that the public option go into effect only in those markets where insurance companies are not providing affordable policies. Others propose a co-op or another non-profit entity to administer the plan. These are all constructive ideas worth exploring.

“But I will not back down on the basic principle that if Americans can’t find affordable coverage, we will provide you with a choice. And I will make sure that no government bureaucrat or insurance company bureaucrat gets between you and the care that you need.” (Sorry for the bold italics, but I love it when someone finally calls attention to the fact that right now insurance bureaucrats stand between you and your doctor, and no one seems so incensed about that.)

8: 46 — State schools get a shout out from Obama! Nice analogy, sir! “It would also keep pressure on private insurers to keep their policies affordable and treat their customers better, the same way public colleges and universities provide additional choice and competition to students without in any way inhibiting a vibrant system of private colleges and universities.”

8:47 — Obama throws some red meat to the base. Yummy! “Part of the reason I faced a trillion dollar deficit when I walked in the door of the White House is because too many initiatives over the last decade were not paid for – from the Iraq War to tax breaks for the wealthy. I will not make that same mistake with health care.”

8:50 — Republicans asses are nailed to their seats. They’re not even standing for reforms to Medicare that will help seniors pay for catastrophic perscription drug costs. Aren’t they worried? I’m sorry, but I feel this speech is going over very well. I wonder how they are going to spin this on Fox.

8:53 — FINALLY! “But know this: I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it’s better politics to kill this plan than improve it. I will not stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are. If you misrepresent what’s in the plan, we will call you out. And I will not accept the status quo as a solution. Not this time. Not now.”

8:55 — I was worried at the beginning of the speech that the president would not bring the emotion. I needn’t have worried. You can hear a pin drop in the chamber, Nancy Pelosi is crying, as the president recalls the late Teddy Kennedy:

“He never forgot the sheer terror and helplessness that any parent feels when a child is badly sick; and he was able to imagine what it must be like for those without insurance; what it would be like to have to say to a wife or a child or an aging parent – there is something that could make you better, but I just can’t afford it.

“That large-heartedness – that concern and regard for the plight of others – is not a partisan feeling. It is not a Republican or a Democratic feeling. It, too, is part of the American character. Our ability to stand in other people’s shoes. A recognition that we are all in this together; that when fortune turns against one of us, others are there to lend a helping hand. A belief that in this country, hard work and responsibility should be rewarded by some measure of security and fair play; and an acknowledgement that sometimes government has to step in to help deliver on that promise.”

Can I get an amen!

Better yet, can I get a healthcare reform bill?

–lori

The Goddess Kinda Watches the President’s Press Conference
(so you don’t have to)

March 24, 2009 politics One comment

As President Obama strides to the podium for tonight’s press conference, I notice he doesn’t really have what I’ve come to think of as a presidential walk. He’s so cool and casual: none of that stiff arms, cowboy frog march we got from President Bush. 

President Obama has a few good moments during the news conference. My favorite was the response to a CNN reporter who asked him why it took him several days to “express his outrage” over the AIG salary bonuses. Note that he didn’t ask why the loop hole was written into the stimulus package in the first place. All this douchebag wanted to know was, “where was the outrage?!” 

“It took me a couple days,” said Obama,  ”because I like to know what I’m talking about before I speak.” In your FACE, cable news man!

If I’m honest though, despite my best intentions to keep on top of all this stuff I have to admit that I’ve already lost track of all the programs the Obama administration has passed or proposed, and his presidency is only 65 days old. So far, we’ve had:

  • The original Toxic Asset Relief Act: $700 billion
    passed during the Bush Administration to infuse capitol onto banks’ balance sheets
  • The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus bill: $787 billion
    includes tax cuts, infrastructure spending, Medicaid spending, etc.  
  • The budget: $3.5 trillion
    Obama’s top priorities are: health care, energy, education, deficit reduction
  • The financial sector bailout: $1 trillion
    the plan announced by Tim Geithner to create a public-private partnership to buy troubled assets from banks; separate from TARP program 
  • The auto sector bailout: $22 billion in government loans already accepted with a request for another $22 billion on tap
  • The AIG bailout: $170 billion in loans
  • Housing program: $75 billion
    reduces mortgages to no more than 30% of borrowers income, which no one is frikkin’ talking about. 

Add it all up, and it comes to about $5.15 trillion billion gazillion dollars. 

I think my head is about to implode. Methinks I should maybe pick one issue and focus on that, just to get some sense of equilibrium. 

–lori

The Goddess Watches the Oscars
(so you don’t have to)

February 23, 2009 popular culture 5 comments

I have several holes in my Oscar-movie viewing this year, the biggest of which is Milk, but Mr. Goddess and I have gamely filled out our ballots regardless, and are sitting here live from our perch in Goddess Attic Central — bottle of shiraz at the ready — for the 81st Academy Awards.

7:20 — I think Ryan Seacrest is wearing more make-up than Evan Rachel Wood. He’s attempting to interview the kids from Slumdog Millionaire, holds up a card listing their names because he can’t pronounce them, and slams an eight-year-old for not speaking English. Classy. Mute button, please!

8:05 — I’ve avoided the Seacrest Fest over on E! and have limited my pre-game viewing to ABC, where the absolutely lovely Tim Gunn is working the red carpet. Seacrest, I hope you’re taking notes. 

8:25 — Tim Gunn begins every question with, “I have to ask you … ” But I still love him.

8:30 – They keep saying that this Oscar telecast will be “like no other.” That the awards presentations themselves will “tell a story.” Whatever. I’m just hoping for some tight acceptance speeches and a 11:30 bedtime. 

8:40 — “From a Slumdog with nothing, I’ve Milk-ed my Button, I’ve Frost-ed my Nixon …” OK, Hugh Jackman kicks some major ass. “Color me impressed,” says the not-easily-impressed Mr. Goddess. 

8:43 –OK, so … wow! The award for Best Supporting Actress is presented by five past winners, who each make personal remarks to the nominees, in place of clips from the films. This “ceremony like no other” had me at hello. I’m loving this! 

8:48 — And the winner is Penelope Cruz. Apparently the winners only have 45 seconds for their speeches, and Cruz makes a nice one, in two languages.

8:52 — The screenplay awards are presented by Steve Martin and Tina Fey. Fantastic! The winner is Milk, and we’re now both two for two. Dustin Lance Black gives an amazing speech:

If Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he’d want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told they are less than by their churches, or by the government, or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value. And that no matter what everyone tells you, God does love you, and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally across this great nation of ours.

9:01 — Moving on to Best Adapted Screenplay, the award goes to Slumdog Millionaire. Mr. Goddess and I are still in lock step, now at three for three. By the way, Tina Fey for Oscar Host, 2010! 

9:02 –And here are Jennifer Aniston and Jack Black. Interesting pairing. Unfortunately, the “2008 Movie Yearbook” they’re introducing strikes the first clunker of the evening, with an old school Oscar montage. Everything until this point has been watchable; this is disposable. At least Black and Aniston go on to present the award for Best Animated Feature. The Oscar goes to Wall-E. That brings our tally to four for four.

9:10 — “Domo arrigato, Mr. Roboto!” Even the non-English speaking award winners are giving kick-ass acceptance speeches, this one for Best Animated Short. Mr. Goddess and I both went with the “vote for the only one we’ve seen” strategy on this one and picked Presto, for our first loss up in the attic. 

9:15 – Out to present the award for Art Direction are Sarah Jessica Parker and Daniel “Yummy with a Spoon” Craig. And the winner is Benjamin Button. And we’re still in lockstep, with another double win. 

9:19 – Moving on, The Duchess takes home the award for Most — I mean, Best — Costume Design. Mr. Goddess and I stay locked at six-out-of-seven. 

9:22 — For makeup, the winner is Benjamin Button. Make that seven-out-of-eight. 

9:25 — The vampire from Twilight and the young woman from Mama Mia add some youth appeal to the proceedings while introducing another boring yearbook montage about romance. Everything is awesome so far, except for these decidedly old-school clip-fests. 

9:31 — Moving on from pre-production to filming with Best Cinematography, presented by Ben Stiller and Natalie Portman. Stiller is wearing his best  Joaquin Phoenix beard and unfocused expression, which leads me to believe that the whole Phoenix “I’m retiring from acting to become a rapper” goof is some kind of elaborate Andy Kaufmann-esque performance piece. Stiller’s shenanigans aside, the winner is Slumdog, bringing our mutual tally up to eight out of nine (we do have some difference in the bigger awards, I promise). 

9:40 – Jessica Biel wore her best bath towel to the Oscars to present the technical awards. 

9:42 — The montage for comedy is actually funny, thanks to James Franco, cinematographer Janusz Kaminski and Seth Rogan. The whole gang is out to present Best Live Action Short. Another double loss, since both Mr. Goddess and I couldn’t bring ourselves to vote for yet another Holocaust film. But the Holocaust will not be denied. ”I spent four years of my life on this 14-minute movie,” says the director. So any joke I may make here at his expense would be absolutely pointless. 

9:52 — Yea!  More Jackman dancing, this time in a salute to musicals. The musical is back! I love musicals!

10:03 — Time for Best Supporting Actor. Rochester’s Own Philip Seymour Hoffman is wearing a knit cap at the Oscars. He must always think it’s snowing. The Oscar goes to Heath Ledger. His parents and sister accept the award and there is not a dry eye in the house. 

10:12 — The Best Supporting Actor award brought our tied score up to  nine out of eleven, and with Best Documentary Feature, we have our first split vote of the night. Bill Maher is out to present the award, and the winner is Man on Wire! Yes, I’ve taken the lead, 10 Oscars to nine. Hey, the French high-wire artist from the film makes a coin disappear and balances the Oscar statue on his chin. Now that’s entertainment!

10:17 – On to Best Documentary Short Subject. And the upset win goes to Smile Pinki, and the director is wearing a killer dress. I love it  when the documentarians rock the fashion. (So far, my only misses have been in all three shorts categories.)

10:22 — The montage devoted to post-production is heavy on the car chases and comic book heros. 

10:26 – Will Smith, himself a visual effect, presents Best Visual Effects. The winner is Benjamin Button, for another double win (and the third win for the Button Boys). I’m still in the lead, 11 wins to 10.

10:30 – So, The Dark Knight wins Sound Editing and Slumdog wins Sound Mixing. Could someone now please tell me the difference between the two? We both get Editing and both miss Mixing, and the score now stands at 12-11.

10:35 – Will Smith is still out to present Film Editing. And the winner is Slumdog Millionaire. Make that 13-12.

10:41 – What’s Eddie Murphy doing here? Oh, he’s presenting the humanitarian award to Jerry Lewis, the man whose “Nutty Professor” character he stole.  The Jerry Lewis telethon was required viewing in my house when I was a kid, and Lewis gives a gracious — and short — acceptance speech.

10:50 — The Best Score medley is really lovely. Honestly, there is nothing I am not liking so far about this show. The winner is Slumdog, for another two-fer at 14-13.

10:55 — The guy who just won for Best Score is out singing ”O Saya,” the first on the Best Original Song medley (Springsteen was robbed!) And the Oscar goes to … that same guy, but for “Jai Ho.” He mentions love a lot, and it seems to be working for him. Make the score 15-14.

11:05 — Liam Neeson and Frida Pinto present the award for Best Foreign Language Film, and the Oscar goes to — whoa, from out of nowhere — Japan with Departure. I had gone with the French film The Class, and Mr. Goddess with the Israeli film Waltzing with Bashir.

11:09 — 20 minutes and four awards left. By george, they may just pull this off! 

11:14 – Even the Death Reel is better this year, with Queen Latifa singing a tribute to those the industry has lost. 

11:18 — Reese Witherspoon presents the award for Best Director. And the winner is Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire, bringing our score to 16-15. Danny Boyle actually thanks the producer of the tonight’s telecast! I don’t think that’s ever happened before. 

11:27 – Now five former best actress winners our out to present the award for Best Actress. As the personal tributes to their greatness roll in, every nominee is reduced to a puddle before she even makes it to the stage. And the winner is Kate Winslet. Mr. Goddess informs me that Kate Winslet is what is known on the other side of the pond as “Jolly Hockeysticks.” I think that’s a good thing, but I’m not sure.

11:36 — Next up is Best Actor and this is the last split decision in the Goddess Attic. Mr. Goddess went for Sean Penn, and I went for Mickey Rourke. And the winner is … Sean Penn! Well, knock me over with a feather boa! We’re tied at 16 all. 

11:47 — Steven Speilberg presents the award for Best Picture. And the winner is Slumdog Millionaire. The entire population of Mumbai joins the overflowing producer up on the stage, and here in the Goddess Attic, we celebrate our first ever Oscars poll tie. 

11:55 – Twenty-five minutes over time, but who the hell cares?! What a great show. Goodnight, Hollywood!

–lori.

The Goddess Watches President Bush’s Last Speech (so you don’t have to)

January 16, 2009 politics One comment

In five days time, we will all wake up in a world where George W. Bush is no longer president. 

The wreckage from these past eight years is quite staggering. The Center for Public Integrity lists 128 failures of the Bush administration and offers a handy online tool that lets you sort, rank and suggest additional failures. It’s a game the whole family can play.

Some of my personal favorites (and by “favorite” read “soul-crushingly sad”):

  • The United States has seen no reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2000, and is on track for a 16 percent increase through 2030. 
  • The Bush administration has shown nothing but disdain for science, leaving positions like the director of the FDA and the surgeon general unfilled for months. Reports of political interference with science were rife, for example a National Cancer Institute report that was edited to (erroneously) link breast cancer to abortion.
  • White House officials routinely used unofficial email accounts that were not archived automatically in accordance with the Presidential Records Act. Thousands of email messages were “lost.”
  • That whole “false premise for going to war” thing.
  • And don’t even get started on the economy!

With all that water under the bridge (and over the levies), Bush delivered his last speech as president yesterday.

8:00 – Smirking, winking, ugh.

8:03 – Three minutes in and he’s wrapping himself in the sadness and bravery of 9-11. “Most Americans were able to return to live much as it was. I never did.” I’m sure that’s true, and I am unendingly grateful that there has not been another terrorist attack. But just as my cold heart is about to give him just a tiniest bit of credit, he leaps into Iraq and the “War on Terror” and I want to bang my head against the coffee table.

8:08 — “You may not agree with some of the tough decisions I’ve had to make but I hope you’ll agree that I made the tough decisions.” ‘Cuz he’s the decider.

8:10 — “I’ve often spoken to you about good and evil, and this has made some uncomfortable. But good and evil are present in this world, and between the two of them there can be no compromise.” So if you’re good, you’re good. If you’re evil, you’re evil. Where exactly that leaves the U.S. policy on waterboarding and torture, Bush does not take the time to elaborate on this occasion.

8:14 — I’ll say this for our 43th president: he’s brief. G.W. — over and out!

–lori

The Goddess Watches the Election Results
(so you don’t have to)

November 5, 2008 politics 2 comments

The General Tso’s chicken is at the door, the wine is being poured, the pajamas are on, and in the Goddess Attic Election Center, we’re in for a hell of a night.

6:20: Watching CNN unveil their new Super-Holograph-o-Vision election technology. It appears that the rotating Capitol Building floating over Campbell Brown’s desk is frozen. Much like my laptop, only my laptop isn’t on national television and didn’t cost a gazillion dollars.

6:30: The first real numbers are in! McCain is up in Indiana and Kentucky with 1% of the precincts reporting. And by the way, what polls close at 6:00??!? What’s the deal, Indiana and Kentucky?

6:55: Grr, laptop still in limbo. Nothing responding. All browsers and tabs dead. Come on, technology! The polls are closing! Mr. Goddess graciously offers his Mac to this PC. There’s a commercial in there somewhere . . .

7:00: First projection: Obama wins Vermont. Way to go, hippies! McCain wins Kentucky. Those white Appalachians still love ya, Johnny. Not enough info to call Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina, and Virginia.

7:13: Political commentary from Mr. Goddess — “For God’s sake with the different rules in the different states! These are federal elections! What the fuck? Drives me barmy.”

7:29: I think I may have bypassed multitasking and smacked straight into holo-tasking. Watching CNN, NBC, and PBS. Twittering, following two Twitter streams, blogging. Checking CNNPolitics.com, Talkingpointsmemo, and NY Times. My eyes! My eyes!

7:48: NBC has called South Carolina for John McCain. That must feel a little good after 2000.

7:55: McCain headquarters is playing the Beatles’ “Nowhere Man.” Has the ennui set in already? 

7:35: Wolf Blitzer — “We’ll check out what’s going on in Florida, because those numbers can’t be right.” There’s a vote of confidence. 

7:58: CNN calls South Carolina for Obama –  even though McCain is currently leading in the actual vote – based on exit polls and “other information.” The “other information” being the fact that NBC has already called the race 10 minutes earlier.

8:00: Polls close in sixteen states. CNN projects the following for Obama: MA, IL, CT, NJ, ME, DE, MD,  and DC. McCain wins OK and TN. My home state of Pennsylvania too early to call. 

8:30: CNN projects New Hampshire for Obama. Now, that one’s gotta hurt John “The Comeback Kid” McCain.

8:31: Political commentary from Mr. Goddess: “Soledad O’Brien is soooo adorable. She’s like a little girl grown up.”

8:39: CNN now projects PA for Obama (PBS, ABC, and NBC had done so about 15 minutes ago). Way to go home state! Keep the party going.

8:50: From the Archives: Goddess of Clarity, November 3, 2004, 8:52pm — “I think I’ve just felt my first rumblings of fear . . .”  I was so confident about a Kerry victory in 2004, until the Ohio rumblings started. Curse you, exit polls!

8:53: Elizabeth Dole loses in North Carolina, for another Democratic pick-up in the Senate. The guy who wrote that “Godless Americans” ad is sooooo fired. 

8:59: Polls close in New York in one minute; get ready for a surprise projection!

9:00:  Just as I suspected! New York goes for Obama (along with RI, MI, WI, and MN) and McCain wins Wyoming and North Dakota. That’s 72 electoral votes to 6. Not a good hour for McCain. 

9:17: NBC is projecting their electoral map onto the ice rink at Rockefeller Center. I keep expecting a large ‘Muppet on Ice’ to skate by.

9:31: Jim Lehrer on PBS: “We’re now going to dazzle you with a map.” Ah, public television. Way to work those network TV 1980s cast-offs. Louisiana just  called for McCain. Quick, PBS! Someone get the red Sharpie!

9:26: On the other side of the scale, just caught a glimpse of the setup at NBC. They appear to be in some sort of weird graphic-design temple of democracy. Their chief pundit is separated from his map by a revolving  moat of taglines. 

9:38: Wow, Ann Curry on NBC is currently acting in a George Lucas film; she’s on a green screen stage reacting to graphs and maps she can’t even see. 

9:42: Jon King will bet his life that Washington, Oregon, and California will not go Republican tonight. Will you? Will you, Jon King? Will you bet your soul?

9:51: I feel like I should be exalting right now. Is it OK to exalt? 

9:55: Historian Michael Bechloss has become a leather-bound book. Stay away from the sunlamp, Micky!

10:05: In my premature presidential giddiness, I’d forgotten about the Senate. Looks like the Democrats have gained four seats. And Al Franken is winning in Minnesota! And do you know why? Because he’s good enough, he’s smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like him.

10:22: If Obama wins Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and California, he’s at 284 electoral votes. 

10:30: I’m Tivo-ing Stewart/Colbert. Saving it for dessert for … let’s say … midnight.

10:40: Ooh, the virtual capitol is back on CNN! I haven’t seen it since it got stuck at the beginning of the night. On second thought, I gotta say I’m not impressed by the virtual capitol. Actually makes it harder to see what’s happening. Not a great way to visualize data.

10:50: OMG, will.i.am hologram on CNN. Is he the first person to ever appear by hologram? Commentary from Mr. Goddess: ”I know this is the wave of the future and ten years from now all interviews will be conducted this way, but right now it just looks weird.”

10:58: CNN calling Virginia for Obama. This is a big one. Polls close in CA, WA, OR, and HA in two minutes. This could be it…

11:00: Here’s to President Barack Obama! Commentary from Mr. Goddess, while raising his glass full of the “special occasion” whisky: “Get used to it: President Obama. This is big. This is fall of the Berlin Wall big.”

11:32: Thoroughly decent concession speech from McCain occasionally interrupted by “U-S-A” chants from frat boy mutton-heads.

11:59: Commentary from Mr. Goddess as speech begins: “None of you fuckers shoot ‘im!  None of you fuckers shoot ‘im. This is not 1968.” This is his first U.S. election. He’s a little excitable.

12:05: Tonight has ended, and become tomorrow. 

–lori.